hell of black cords ［黒縄地獄］ ( Kālasūtra;  Kokujō-jigoku): The second of the eight hot hells. It is said that in this hell the bodies of offenders are wrapped with heated black iron cords, and with these cords as guides are sawed or slashed to pieces. The Sanskrit word kālasūtra means the thread of death. Kāla means death and fate, and sūtra means thread, cord, wire, or measuring line. Explanations of the hell of black cords differ slightly according to the source. See also eight hot hells; hell.